MINNEAPOLIS – SEPTEMBER 24: Jonny Flynn #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses for a portrait during 2010 NBA Media Day on September 24, 2010 at Lifetime Fitness Training Center inTarget Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Timberwolves point guard Jonny Flynn has called his recovery after hip surgery in July one of the more “agonizing times” of his basketball career.

Flynn needed surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, leaving him on crutches for nearly a month and with strict orders to limit his activity for several more weeks. He couldn’t even shoot jump shots in training camp. When Flynn received permission to do some light shooting, he was told to barely lift his feet off the floor to keep from aggravating the hip.

Flynn steadily has increased his participation in practice but has no timetable for his return to the lineup. He accompanied the Wolves (1-5) on the three-game road trip that begins tonight in Houston.

Flynn has been on the bench in street clothes since the start of the exhibition season, giving him a view of how the team is playing and what factors into decisions made by coach Kurt Rambis during games. Here are Flynn’s observations:

Pioneer Press: What’s it like to visualize what Rambis sees in games from the bench?

Flynn: It’s definitely crazy. Last year, I was always thinking when he pulled me to the side, “What is he talking about? What is he seeing?” When you sit there and see things from the sidelines, you see a lot of things you normally wouldn’t see or pay attention to when you’re in the game. I really have a better understanding now of what the coaches are looking at.

PP: Why do you think the team is struggling after a successful (6-2) exhibition season?

JF: A lot of guys on the team are still trying to find themselves. There was a little bit of fool’s gold in the preseason based on how well and smooth everything went. We learned pretty quick how different the preseason is from the regular season. Adjustments still have to be made, and with a system like we have, it will take time. When we get things together, we’ll be all right.

PP: As the point guard, what priorities are on your mind while watching games and seeing certain situations?

JF: You want to make sure everybody knows what we’re in on offense, and for defense, what pick-and-roll coverages we’re supposed to be using — who should be helping out here or there. From what I’ve seen, we just need to fine-tune a lot of the little things, and we’ll be OK.

PP: When you return, you’ll finally get a chance to play with some of the new players — guys like Michael Beasley, Anthony Tolliver, Martell Webster and Wesley Johnson. The moves changed the identity of the team. What kind of transition will that be for you?

JF: It’ll be a lot different for me, but I’m excited about it. With team being more athletic and having the shooters we have, it will really be a year for me where I can get the ball up the floor and penetrate or kick it out. I can see adding my part of the game to the up-tempo style we’re developing. I’m looking forward to that.

PP: What have you learned from watching Luke Ridnour, a seven-year veteran, run the team in your absence?

JF: The first thing that stands out to me is the way he advances the ball. If he sees somebody open downcourt, he’ll make the long pass to him so we can push our offense. He also knows how to space the floor real well. He’s always in the right position on the floor and knows how to get out of the way when necessary. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He knows what spots to be in at the right time. He and Sebastian (Telfair) do a lot of the little things that I want to implement in my game when I come back.

PP: How close do you think you are to playing?

JF: I’m almost there. I really feel I’m right around the corner. We’ll see how this week of practice goes and make a fair assessment out of that. They want to see how I’m doing now that I’ve been cleared to do a lot more in practice.

PP: Whose decision will it be to say when you’re ready?

JF: Oh, it’ll be a collective decision. It won’t be totally up to me, but I know I’m making progress.

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